Rodeo Hits Town

Interviews about the Wild West Show and rodeo riding at the Essex Show Ground.

This Anglia Television news report opens with a cowboy gunfight scene staged for the camera. Against a mock-up set of a saloon bar with straw bales, a man plays the banjo while other men and women in American western costume stand around, and a man draws up riding a horse. A man pretends to shoot a gun from the saloon door and people fall as if shot while the banjo plays on. A horseback rider leads others in US cavalry soldiers’ uniforms past a tent, a cannon and a covered wagon, US flags waving. The riders approach the camera, followed by a covered wagon drawn by two horses, then a group on horseback dressed as characters from Planet of the Apes. Anglia Television reporter Judy Finnigan talks to organiser Chris Basham about the appeal of the rodeo event. He speaks of the romance of the Wild West and people’s enjoyment of western films for thrills and excitement. The last western extravaganza in the UK was Tex Ritter’s show nearly forty years ago. The new show will be very expensive, will it pay off? If not he’ll be eating horsemeat at the end of the year. Shot of the poster for the Wild West Show including Western Rodeo and Urko and his Gorillas live from the Planet of the Apes at Essex Show Ground. Scenes of the rodeo enclosure where the gate is opened to release a succession of riders on bucking broncos, bulls and steers which rear and soon unseat their riders. Attendants capture the animals while the riders lie vulnerable on the ground. Judy Finnigan asks Chris Basham whether there are UK competitors to rival the American riders, and whether it is dangerous. He says yes, that is why there is a first aid tent next to the ring. Behind him performers dressed as Urko on horseback and other characters from Planet of the Apes arrive carrying a wooden cage. Chris Basham says he has seen dangerous accidents at Calgary and Cheyenne. The camera then captures an accident where a horse crosses a fence and falls on its rider who cries for help. In the distance the horse is captured. Judy Finnigan talks with the injured man who says his leg is just badly bruised and the horse was trying to escape the cow bells worn by the bulls. Another bull rider enters the rodeo ring where a donkey watches the action. In the final sequence, the banjo player in Mexican style western garb including bullet belts and a sombrero hat plays a tune, a thin roll-up cigarette in the corner of his mouth.

Featured Buildings

Essex County Showground, Great Leighs, Essex

Featured Events

Wild West Show

Keywords

Rodeos; Cowboys; Westerns; Horses; Bulls; Cattle; Bucking bronco; Sport; Entertainment; Animal welfare; Accidents; Risk; Planet of the Apes